In this episode, Matthew and Alec are joined by Omid Malekan to speak about rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran, and how global instability may accelerate Bitcoin and crypto adoption. The discussion explores internal unrest in Iran, including protests driven by hyperinflation, economic collapse, and regime instability, alongside the uncertainty surrounding potential geopolitical escalation. The conversation then shifts to whether Bitcoin mining in Iran played a role in sanctions evasion, with analysis showing no meaningful drop in global hash rate, suggesting limited reliance on Iranian mining. Matthew and Omid also discuss how a fragmenting global order may require a neutral, permissionless financial system independent of U.S. or China-centric monetary control. They contrast Bitcoin with gold, noting how gold is difficult to transport or deploy during crises, while Bitcoin can move instantly using private keys. The episode also examines stablecoin usage in Iran, including reports of adoption among younger populations and potential use in cross-border payments during internet restrictions. Omid highlights how crypto adoption often spreads gradually, comparing it to early mobile technology adoption before smartphones reached mainstream use. The conversation frames Bitcoin as a geopolitical hedge and settlement network in a multipolar world. The episode concludes with the argument that geopolitical instability may serve as a long-term catalyst for crypto adoption.Follow Omid on X: @malekanomsCrypto Voices: Episode 196Contents:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:25 - Iran's Political Crisis and Regime Collapse00:07:40 - Iran's Crisis: Economic Collapse and Uncertain Future00:14:46 - Iran's Attack Reshapes Middle East Alliances00:19:27 - Military Strikes Without a Post-War Plan00:25:05 - Iran's Revolutionary Regime Goes All In00:30:19 - Bitcoin's Advantage Over Gold in Conflict00:32:47 - Gold Hoards and Bitcoin's Timing Problem00:37:51 - Stable Coins and Censorship Resistance00:44:50 - Crypto's Real Promise: Censorship Resistance Over Regulation00:51:57 - Lessons from DAO Hack: Neutrality and Risk00:55:49 - Prediction Markets and Price Discovery Challenges01:04:50 - Drones, Memes, and Modern Warfare Realignment01:09:19 - Phone Addiction and Digital Distraction RealityHosts: Matthew Mezinskis, & Alec HarrisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Alec Harris's havenX: https://thehavenx.com/Show Sponsors: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comPodcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!

Bitcoin mining, state adoption, stablecoins, and geopolitical competition take center stage in this wide-ranging discussion with Jake Langenkamp. Jake Langenkamp is the founder and CEO of Bridger, a Bitcoin mining company working to partner with international utilities to monetize wasted energy. Prior to Bridger, Jake spent about two decades in the U.S. military and working for the Department of Defense. Over the course of his career, he's worked in North America, Europe, Central Asia and Africa.

Jake argues we are in an “awkward middle phase” between retail-driven cycles and sovereign accumulation. Countries are experimenting with strategic Bitcoin reserves, tax policy changes, and mining initiatives, with Brazil’s recent proposal serving as a case study. The conversation dives deep into stablecoins as instruments of US monetary strategy, Tether’s expanding global role, and the implications of frozen addresses and compliance pressure.

On mining, Jake explains why frontier markets, especially parts of Africa, present powerful opportunities. Bitcoin mining monetizes stranded energy, accelerates electrification, and may become a sovereign strategy as states recognize Bitcoin’s macro importance.

The episode closes with broader geopolitical tensions, sanctions dynamics, and the growing intersection between Bitcoin, statecraft, and global monetary competition.Follow Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-langenkamp/ Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JakeLangenkampLearn more about Bridger: https://www.bridgerbc.com/

Crypto Voices: Episode 194Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comHost: Matthew Mezinskis & Alec HarrisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#bitcoin #money #economics

This episode of Crypto Voices features Stephen Perrenod, a veteran technologist, author, and public speaker with decades of experience at the intersection of advanced computing, science, and enterprise strategy. With a background spanning cloud computing, high-performance computing, AI, and data-intensive systems, Stephen brings a rare mix of technical depth and market insight shaped by leadership roles at companies like Cray, SGI, and Sun Microsystems, as well as advisory work with Fortune 500 firms and emerging startups at OrionX. Holding degrees from MIT and Harvard, his perspective grounds today’s crypto and AI narratives in long-cycle technological evolution rather than short-term hype.Follow Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenperrenod/ Crypto Voices: Episode 193Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comHost: Matthew MezinskisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#bitcoin #money #economics

This episode features former British and Ukrainian military serviceman Shaun Pinner, who recounts his experience fighting in Mariupol during the initial Russian invasion and surviving months of brutal captivity. Shaun describes the intense seven-week battle that preceded his capture, the torture he endured, and the propaganda mechanisms used by Russian state media to portray him as a mercenary and terrorist.

The conversation also covers the resilience of the Ukrainian society, the evolution of drone warfare, the shifting balance of power, and the role of NATO and Western support. Shaun also breaks down how misinformation targets Western audiences and why Russia invests heavily in online influence. He closes by discussing his book, Live Fight Survive, which recounts his captivity and counters the false narratives created about him while he was imprisoned.

Follow Shaun on X: https://x.com/olddog100ua

Live. Fight. Survive. The International Bestseller by Shaun Pinner: https://shaunpinner.com/bookCrypto Voices: Episode 192Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comChapters:00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:31 - Torture and Captivity in Russian Prison

00:07:26 - Systemic War Crimes in Russian Military

00:09:53 - Torture, False Confessions, and War Crimes

00:14:14 - Russian Intelligence Recruitment and POW Treatment Disparities

00:20:45 - Pokrovsk: Russia's Hollow Military Victory

00:33:32 - Ukraine's Hidden Power Shift Against Russia

00:35:49 - Living Under Constant Drone Attacks in Kharkiv

00:40:11 - Russian Economy Collapse and Putin's Failed Goals

00:43:00 - Putin's Paranoia and Oligarch Pressure

00:48:48 - Republican Support for Ukraine Explained

00:52:00 - NATO Spending and Modern Drone Warfare

00:56:34 - Ukraine's Training Edge Over Russian Forces

00:59:45 - Russia's Sanitation Crisis and Poverty

01:03:58 - Decoding Russian Propaganda and Media Control

01:07:04 - Russian Propaganda and Misuse of Free Speech

01:10:27 - Russian Propaganda and Disinformation War

01:15:11 - Ground Sources and Detecting Propaganda

01:16:48 - Supporting Ukraine: Donations and Legal ActionHost: Matthew MezinskisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#ukraine #russia #unitedstates

This episode of Crypto Voices is all about the hard truths of digital asset security and why the industry still isn’t ready for what’s coming. David Schwed, former CISO at Robinhood and now COO at SVRN, unpacks the real-world gaps in crypto infrastructure, the illusion of safety in enterprise setups, and why physical attacks may be a bigger deal than the headlines suggest.Crypto Voices: Episode 191Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comAlec Harris's havenX: https://thehavenx.com/Chapters:00:00:00 - Security Fundamentals: Keys and Digital Signatures00:02:03 - Crypto Security: Prevention Over Response00:05:42 - Physical Security and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities00:08:31 - Policy Gaps and Quantum Threats in Crypto Security00:10:58 - Quantum Computing Threats to Encryption00:15:39 - Banks Focus on Blockchain Technology Over Digital Assets00:18:52 - Bitcoin as Digital Gold and Stablecoin Future00:24:10 - AI Over-Reliance in Cybersecurity Tools00:28:16 - Legal Risks of AI-Generated Code in Production00:31:27 - Data Governance and Privacy in AI Security00:35:56 - Protecting Personal Information in Digital Forms00:37:34 - Zero Knowledge Proofs and Privacy Standards00:40:33 - Technology Maturity and Regulatory Standards00:42:10 - Self-Custody vs Platform Security Trade-offs00:46:33 - Crypto's Growth: Missing the Early Community Days00:49:08 - Crypto Market Growth and Builder ConcernsHosts: Matthew Mezinskis & Alec HarrisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#bitcoin #privacy #unitedstates

In this episode of Crypto Voices, Matt is joined by James, one of the top minds in Bitcoin on-chain analysis. James has been a driving force behind Bitcoin analytics since 2019. He led the analyst team at Glassnode, created frameworks like Cointime Economics, and was the voice behind the Week On-chain series.Together, Matt and James dive into what really drives Bitcoin’s growth and why it doesn’t follow the clean exponential trends we see with stocks like Apple. Instead, Bitcoin behaves along a power curve, with each doubling taking longer than the last. They explore log vs log-log scaling, the limits of stock-to-flow models, and why most charts people throw around online miss the point entirely.If you want to understand how Bitcoin actually grows and how to read it right, this is a must-listen.Keep up with James at https://www.checkonchain.com/X: https://x.com/_checkmatey_?lang=enCrypto Voices: Episode 190Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donate.basemoney.world/i/TsDZFvvW7EApKJJGuhb6JSShow support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comChapters:00:00:00 - Bitcoin's Massive Underwater Position Explained00:07:13 - Bitcoin Chart Analysis and Market Cycles00:14:50 - Reading Bitcoin Market Cycles Through On-Chain Data00:23:14 - Bitcoin Unrealized Losses and Price Pressure00:25:15 - Mining Revenue and On-Chain Activity Metrics00:31:29 - Bitcoin vs Gold: Relative Performance Analysis00:36:54 - Bitcoin's Cost of Production and Market Structure00:41:58 - The Great Bitcoin Holder Rotation Explained01:00:29 - Derivatives and Options Reshaping Bitcoin Markets01:03:07 - Options Market Structure and Bitcoin Volatility01:05:51 - Control Your Decisions, Not the MarketHost: Matthew Mezinskis Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#bitcoin #blockchain #money

In this conversation from Boston Blockchain Week, Alec Harris, founder of HavenX and an expert in digital and physical security, sits down to expose the modern threats lurking behind your digital footprint. From virtual kidnappings powered by voice cloning to North Korean social engineering attacks, Alec walks us through real-world case studies, where even minor lapses in OpSec have cost individuals and companies millions.

We discuss how most attacks begin with simple online reconnaissance. Crypto executives are being profiled through years-old tweets, digital breadcrumbs, and even school photos their families post. Alec explains how data brokers, ad tech, and "always-on" smart devices feed an invisible surveillance machine collecting 50 trillion data points a year.

Don’t wait — get your tickets now for Boston Blockchain Week! bostonblockchainweek.com

Learn more about havenX at www.thehavenx.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havenx_official/

X: https://x.com/the_havenx

Crypto Voices: Episode 189Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donate.basemoney.world/i/TsDZFvvW7EApKJJGuhb6JSShow support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comChapters:00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:12 - Digital and Physical Security Insights

00:03:05 - Introduction to havenX and Crypto Focus

00:04:27 - Understanding Security Needs in Crypto

00:07:50 - Protecting Your Digital Footprint

00:10:05 - Understanding Your Digital Footprint

00:12:17 - Understanding the Data Broker Industry

00:14:32 - Surveillance State and Data Privacy

00:17:07 - Smart Devices and Privacy Concerns

00:20:49 - Case Studies on Noncompliance Risks

00:22:44 - Importance of Compliance in Cybersecurity

00:25:51 - Digital Protection Strategies for Success

00:29:00 - Virtual Kidnapping and Voice Cloning Risks

00:31:30 - Connecting with havenXHost: Matthew Mezinskis & Alec HarrisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#privacy #bitcoin #bostonblockchainweek

In this episode, Matthew speaks with journalist Joe Lindsley. Joe is the only journalist who has reported live from Ukraine every single weekday since Russia's full-scale invasion, all while assembling money and volunteers to deliver vital supplies to the front lines. Formerly entrenched in Murdoch media circles, Joe now delivers unfiltered, on-the-ground insights that challenge media narratives and expose the cultural and political disconnect in American support for Ukraine. The conversation dives into the Burisma controversy, Russian disinformation, America’s failed foreign policy consensus, and the enduring resistance of the Ukrainian people — not just militarily, but through innovation, spirit, and cultural resolve. With sharp commentary on Tucker Carlson, Biden, and Trump, this episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the global stakes of Ukraine’s fight and its meaning for freedom worldwide.Get in touch with Joe Lindsley:Subscribe: youtube.com/@uafreedomnews?sub_confirmation=1Joe Lindsley on Instagram: instagram.com/jplindsleyFacebook: facebook.com/josephlindsleyTwitter (X): https://x.com/JPLindsleyUkranian Freedom News: ukrainianfreedomnews.comCrypto Voices: Episode 188Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donate.basemoney.world/i/TsDZFvvW7EApKJJGuhb6JSShow support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comChapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Ukraine Support Discussion00:04:14 - Escape from Media Manipulation00:09:33 - Journey to Journalism in Ukraine00:13:12 - Bitcoin vs. Crypto Scams00:16:38 - Understanding Burisma's Role in Ukraine00:30:33 - Ukraine's Struggle for Independence00:35:16 - NATO's Role and Ukraine's Struggle00:54:46 - Understanding Ukraine's Struggle and Resilience01:00:42 - Escalating Attacks on Kyiv01:04:12 - Resilience Amidst Ongoing Conflict01:07:43 - US Support and Ukraine's Struggle01:12:05 - Impact of U.S. Aid on Kharkiv01:15:04 - Media Silence on Kharkiv's Safety01:19:51 - Highlighting Ukraine's Strengths and InnovationHost: Matthew MezinskisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#trump #ukraine #russia